Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Carl G. Evers

By Charlie Allen

A long overdue project that I had promised to Leif has been a review of the illustrations and paintings of Carl G. Evers.

He was another mid-century artist and illustrator who deserves far more recognition and respect than he has received….especially in this digital culture where gadgets have replaced so much artistic creativity.

As a young illustrator I constantly clipped ads and illustrations in spare time. One of the clip files was labeled "Carl Evers” and the ad subjects were boats and ships, often in industrial settings.

Evers illustrated a fine series for the Philadelphia Electric Company…

... complicated scenes, very technical, but beautifully composed and rendered.

As usual, I was a day short and a dollar late. I found the small book of Evers paintings in a used book shop in Oakland a few years ago. I didn't know it was well known and a valuable reference for marine painting. No doubt about it....he could dramatize an ocean scene better than any of the older marine oil painters. All in gouache. Not strong on figures....so did little fiction illustration.

Hello, I'm an English artist/illustrator and I'm afraid up until recently this type of art was seen as being "unfashionable" but at last the wheel is turning and economic downturns nearly always flag up quality which has been neglected. Well now we have this great artist at last being recognised for the giant he was. If only he had lived to see the proper accolades which will surely, and rightly, come his way.